Ten Places to Stay Near Water

by Kate Simon

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside - lakes, lochs and rivers, too. For, a watery theme can add a splash of something special to a holiday, whether you’re heading to the countryside or the coast, romancing your honey or entertaining the kids. Do you fancy jumping in the waves, stretching your legs in the sea air, trying on some water-skis for size, or setting sail into the sunset? Or do you just want to let the gorgeous views float away your daily cares? Check out this pick of ten hotels, B&Bs and cottages to discover the place for your perfect waterside break.

This 11-room hotel on Scotland’s west coast puts sublime views of placid lochs and the dramatic mountains on your doorstep. Just cross the road to pick up the path around the Appin peninsula to admire the Firth of Lorne or stroll along the banks of nearby Loch Laich to look out at Castle Stalker, cast adrift on its tiny islet.

There’s non-stop fun for active families at this 200-bedroom hotel, where the packed itinerary offers everything from archery to Zumba. Be sure to check out the action at nearby Loch Earn, where a boat awaits to take you waterskiing, wakeboarding and kneeboarding. For more thrills and spills, try a Tornado Ride - bounce across the water on an inflatable shaped like a biscuit.

For bracing walks on shingle beaches beneath wide skies, head to the Suffolk coast. Make your home the peaceful village of Orford, on the banks of the River Ore, where you’ll find lovely lodgings at this 21-bedroom hotel. This little backwater is a charmer, with ancient lanes and a 12th-century castle, and puts you within easy reach of more coastal delights, including Aldeburgh, Thorpeness and Dunwich Beach.

Woolacombe Bay provides the seafront action at this hotel in Devon. Just drink in the views from its 29 bedrooms - a panorama that takes in Combesgate Beach, Lundy Island and Baggy Point. Book a room with a balcony and watch the sunset crown the scene each evening. If you want to get into the briny, this place has some of the best surfing in the country.

On the banks of the Dart, this 49-bedroom hotel provides a great base for yachties who like messing about on the river, with two pontoon berths where you can drop anchor. If you prefer to watch others at play on the water, book now to see the sailors and rowers in action at this year’s Dartmouth Royal Regatta, 29-31 August.

Pack the buckets and spades for a holiday at one of these five luxury cottages, sleeping two to seven, on the south coast of Cornwall. There’s lots of fun to be had on and around the water in these parts; the lovely port of Fowey is a short walk away, while further afield lie the beaches at Looe and the quaint fishing village of Polperro.